This "sweet home Alabama" town charms new arrivals with its
peaceful bayfront and lively locals.

Along the eastern shoreline of Alabama's Mobile Bay, pristine
wooden piers run parallel to weathered pilings. These skeletal
remnants, now roosts for pelicans, once resembled their intact
neighbors. A couple of blocks from the water, the main drag of Old
Towne Daphne manifests the same haunting blend of present and
past.

Daphne, dating to 1763 (when it was commonly known as "The
Village"), retains a small-town feel. Spanish moss-draped oaks
shade quiet streets where preteens skateboard beside jogging
parents. The scent of gardenia drifts on bay breezes through cozy
neighborhoods. In the town's center, homes of yesteryear have been
converted into distinctive cafès and boutiques.

This community became a resort destination for Mobile and New
Orleans residents prior to the Civil War. Wealthy families flocked
to the area's elegant hotels, one of which currently houses Bayside
Academy prep school. In the early 1900s, Italian families settled
here and brought their tradition of great food and wine. This rich
cultural heritage and Southern hospitality continue to draw
newcomers.

"Be careful," says Susan Daniels, owner of Bay Coffee Company,
as she helps a girl balance hot cocoa and an icing-swirled cinnamon
roll. "See, I treat you like my own child." Nearby, a little boy
presses his face against the glass-front case full of croissants
and muffins.

"One thing I really like about Daphne is that my customers
become friends," Susan says. "We play bunco together and watch each
other's kids play football." In fact, she can name only one
drawback of this tight-knit burg: "Even if you're just going to
Wal-Mart, don't think you're going in without makeup, because you
will definitely run into someone you know."

Brian Banta and John Cauley, who own a chic jewelry store in
Daphne, moved here two and a half years ago. "I left L.A. and South
Beach because I missed Southern charm," says John. "This is a
hometown, not a tourist destination." Though residents only a short
time, they already feel like emissaries. "When people come from out
of town," says John, "we just welcome them into our little
circle."

That circle has widened to include many young families and
active retirees. With a growing population, the area has added the
new city Bayfront Park, civic center, and recreation facility to
its already scenic streetscape. In the works: a fountain in front
of city hall that features a bronze Daphne, a nymph in Greek
mythology. By honoring its past, Daphne looks forward to a
classically beautiful future.